71 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND BROOKS, Wilson Oliver Wilson was born in Windsor, Ontario in 1925. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on April 26, 1943, and trained at No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School in Dafoe, Saskatchewan. He was one of the first Black commissioned officers in the RCAF to serve in a bomber squadron during World War II and earned the rank of Flying Officer at the age of nineteen, in 1944. He received his wings and was honourably discharged in 1945. Wilson was also a civil rights advocate and formed the Toronto Negro Veteran’s Association which, in 1947, put public pressure on cases of discrimination, including the exclusion of Black women who wanted to become nurses. Additionally, he fought for pensions for Veterans and became the first Black male teacher and principal in Toronto. Information provided by the Amherstburg Freedom Museum with assistance. BROWN, Keith Russell Keith was born in Ottawa on June 11, 1929. In September 1950, Leo Egan, a close friend, and Keith heard that the Canadian Army was looking for volunteers to form a Korean Brigade to engage in combat in Korea with the United Nations. They went down to the Army recruiting office and joined up. They were accepted and sent to the Army Base at Rockcliffe for their medicals. Later, the Army Officer notified Leo that he was to report to the Army Base in London, Ontario. A few days later, Keith was informed that they had sufficient soldiers recruited and did not need any more infantry. However, they needed cooks. Not wanting to be a cook, he requested that he be transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was informed to report to the RCAF Base in Clinton for basic training. While in the Air Force, Keith was stationed at various Early Warning Radar Stations and attained the rank of Corporal. He was honourably discharged from the RCAF on October 12, 1955. It would be three years before he saw Leo again after he safely returned home. Keith is a twelve-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Westboro Branch 480. BROWN, Frederick Wesley “Fred” Fred was born in Vasey, near Coldwater, Ontario, on January 6, 1895, the son of Reverend Jas and Maria (Robinson) Brown. Early during World War I, he married Marjorie Grace Millard of Coldwater, on October 23, 1915. On January 17, 1916, he enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) with the 2nd Field Ambulance Depot, Canadian Expeditionary Force in Toronto. On his attestation form, he listed his trade as banker and stated he had no previous military experience. Private Fred Brown sailed on the SS Olympicto arrive in England on April 13, 1916 and served several months with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. He was discharged from the CEF on August 28, 1917 to be commissioned as an officer in the British Imperial Army. Lieutenant Brown was later taken prisoner by the Germans and spent the rest of the war as a POW. After the war, he moved back to Coldwater and became the postmaster. In 1935, he became a founding member of Branch 270 of the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League, today’s Royal Canadian Legion Coldwater Branch 270, and served as president in 1937. He was a 34-year member. Fred passed away in 1969 and is buried in Coldwater.
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